Cage
An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of cages, or a nickname for someone who lived near a cage.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,238 Americans carry the last name Cage. That puts it at #6,345 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.82 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 54,946 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cage surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
6.2K
1 in 54,946
Census rank
#6,345
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,372 bearers of the surname Cage in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.82 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6345th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cage, the largest self-reported group is Black at 55.3%. The next largest groups are White (38.8%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cage
The surname Cage has its roots in England, originating in the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "cage," which means a small hut or dwelling. This points to the name initially being used as a descriptive term for someone who lived in a small, cage-like dwelling.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cage surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1195, where a Robert de la Cage is mentioned. This suggests the name was already established in England by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Cage, Cagge, and Kage, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 include references to individuals with the surname Cage in counties like Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
During the 14th century, the Cage surname was further documented in historical records. The Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 list a Johannes Cagge, while the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1381 mention a William Cage.
Notable individuals with the Cage surname throughout history include John Cage (1912-1992), an influential American composer known for his experimental and avant-garde works. Another is Henry Clinton Cage (1859-1937), an American civil engineer who played a key role in the construction of the Panama Canal.
In the literary world, there was Henry Cage (1816-1892), an English writer and journalist who wrote extensively on the history of Hertfordshire. Historically, the Cage surname was also associated with places like Cage Green in Kent, which derived its name from the Old English word "caega," meaning enclosure or cage.
Other individuals of note include Sir Thomas Cage (1786-1849), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Harriet Cage (1856-1926), an American suffragist and activist who campaigned for women's right to vote.
While the Cage surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals who migrated or were part of the British diaspora.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cage
Among Census respondents with the surname Cage, the largest self-reported group is Black at 55.3%. The next largest groups are White (38.8%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Cage bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Cage surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American55.3%
- White38.8%
- Two or more races3.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cage surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,345 | #6,345 | 0.0% |
| Count | 5,372 | 5,372 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.82 | 1.82 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Cage bearers went from 5,372 to 5,372 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #6,345 to #6,345.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cage
FAQ
Cage surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cage?
The surname Cage holds position #6,345 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,238 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.82 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cage surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cage, the largest self-reported group is Black at 55.3%. The next largest groups are White (38.8%) and Two or More Races (3.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.